Sole device

ABSTRACT

The sole device contains a bottom sole, a middle sole, and a top sole stacked in this order from bottom to top. A large number of air chambers are formed between the top and middle soles. The air chambers are interconnected with lateral ducts and the ducts are connected to the top and bottom surfaces of the top and middle soles by a number of vertical channels, respectively. The ducts and air chambers are further connected to one-way valves configured around the circumferences of the middle and bottom soles. As a user walks, the air chambers are periodically pressed to expel warm and humid air to the outside of the shoes via the ducts, channels, and the one-way valves. The one-way valves prevent water or rain from permeating into the shoes.

(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to sole devices of footwear, and more particularly to a sole device having a three-layer structure with superior ventilation and buffering effects.

(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Enhanced ventilation is a major research focus in the footwear industry recently. However, most of the teachings provide indirect or limited air flow, or the air circulation is still confined within the shoes, leaving still significant room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a novel sole device. According to the present invention, the sole device contains a bottom sole, a middle sole, and a top sole stacked in this order from bottom to top.

A large number of air chambers are formed between the top and middle soles. The air chambers are interconnected with lateral ducts and the ducts are connected to the top and bottom surfaces of the top and middle soles, respectively, by a number of vertical channels. The ducts and air chambers are further connected to one-way valves configured around the circumferences of the middle and bottom soles.

As a user walks, the air chambers are periodically pressed to expel warm and humid air to the outside of the shoes via the ducts, channels, and the one-way valves. The one-way valves prevent water or rain from permeating into the shoes.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the at, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the top surface of the top sole of a sole device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of the top sole of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the top surface of the middle sole of a sole device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the interconnection between the lower indentations and lower troughs on the top surface of the middle sole of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the combination of the top and middle soles of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the combination of the top, middle, and bottom soles according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the combination of the top and middle soles of FIGS. 1 and 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, a sole device according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a bottom sole 1, a middle sole 3, and an top sole 2 stacked in this order from bottom to top.

As shown in FIG. 1, the top sole 2 contains a large number of bulges 4 covering pretty much the entire top surface except the heel area. In the gaps between the bulges 4, there are a large number of upper channels 6 connecting the top and bottom surface of the top sole 2. As further shown in FIG. 2, each bulge 4 on the top surface corresponds to an upper indentation 5 on the bottom surface of the top sole 2. Each upper indentation 5 is connected to an adjacent upper indentation 5 by an upper trough 10. The bottom end of each upper channel 6 is inside an upper trough 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the top sole 2 has a significantly larger bulge 71 (compared to the bulges 4) in the middle of the heel area of the top surface, corresponding to a significantly larger upper heel indentation 7 on the bottom surface. The upper heel indentation 7 is connected to the adjacent upper indentations 5 by a number of upper troughs 13, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the middle sole 3 has its top surface structured exactly identical to the bottom surface of the top sole 2. That is, the middle sole 3 has a large number of lower indentations 8, each corresponding to an upper indentation 5, and a lower heel indentation 9 in the heel area corresponding to the upper heel indentation 7. Also, the lower indentations 8 are interconnected with lower troughs 10, each corresponding to an upper trough 10 on the bottom surface of the top sole 2. Similarly, the lower heel indentation 9 is connected to adjacent lower indentations 8 by a number of lower troughs 13, respectively, each corresponding to an upper trough 13 on the bottom surface of the top sole 2. As such, when the top sole 2 and the middle sole 3 are vertically and closely attached together, the upper and lower indentations 5 and 8 and the upper and lower heel indentations 7 and 9 are joined together to form a large number of air chambers 58 and a larger heel air chamber 79 in the heel area, as shown in FIG. 7. The larger heel air chamber 79 is connected to a number of adjacent air chambers 58 by ducts formed by the combined upper and lower troughs 13, and the air chambers 58 are interconnected by ducts formed by the combined upper and lower troughs 10. The middle sole 3 also have a number of lower channels 11 connecting the top and bottom surfaces of the middle sole 3. The top end of each lower channel 11 is inside a lower trough 10.

The combination of the top and middle soles 2 and 3 are shown in FIG. 5. Please note that, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the middle sole 3 has a number of one-way valves 12 arranged around the circumference. At least one of the valves 12 is connected to the lower heel indentation 9 and at least one of the other valves 12 is connected to a lower indentation 8 or a lower trough 10 in the middle sole 3. The ducts connecting the valves 12 and the lower indentation 9 or 8 or the lower trough 10 are not explicitly shown in the drawings but should be straightforward to those skilled in the related art.

The combination of the top, middle, and bottom soles 2, 3, and 1 is shown in FIG. 6. As illustrated, the bottom sole 1 also has a number of one-way valves 14 arranged around the circumference. Each valve 14 is connected to a lower channel 11 (and therefore the lower troughs 10) and again, for simplicity, the ducts connecting the valves 14 and the lower channels 11 are not explicitly shown in the drawings but should be straightforward to those skilled in the related art.

The large number of air chambers 58 and 79 provides comfort buffering and massaging effects to a user wearing the shoes with the sole device installed. When the user walks and lands his/her shoes on the ground, the air chambers 58 and 79 are pressed to expel the warm and humid air to the outside via the lower channels 11 and the one-way valves 12 and 14. When the user lifts the shoes above the ground and releases the pressure on the air chambers 58 and 79, dry and cool air is drawn into the shoes and into the air chambers 58 and 97 via the upper channels 6. The foregoing process repeats itself periodically as the user walks and the shoes are therefore thoroughly ventilated. Please note that the use of one-way valves 12 and 14 allowing air to flow only to the outside of the shoes helps preventing rain or water to permeate into the air chambers 58 and 79 and then into the shoes.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

1. A sole device, comprising: a bottom sole; a middle sole stacked on top of said bottom sole, said middle sole having a plurality of lower indentations arranged on the top surface of said middle sole, each lower indentation connected to an adjacent lower indentation by a lower trough; and a top sole stacked on top of said middle sole, said top sole having a plurality of upper indentations arranged on the bottom surface of said top sole, said top sole having a plurality of bulges arranged on the top surface of said top sole, each bulges corresponding to an upper indentation; wherein each upper indentation joints with a lower indentation to form an air chamber.
 2. The sole device according to claim 1, wherein said top sole has a plurality of upper channels, each connecting the top surfaces of said top sole and a lower trough.
 3. The sole device according to claim 1, wherein said upper and lower indentations are arranged outside said heel area; said top sole has an upper heel indentation in the middle of said heel area on the bottom surface of said top sole; said middle sole has a corresponding lower heel indentation in the middle of said heel area on the top surface of said middle sole; and said upper and lower heel indentations join to form a heel air chamber.
 4. The sole device according to claim 3, wherein said lower heel indentation is connected to an adjacent lower indentation by a lower trough.
 5. The sole device according to claim 3, wherein said upper heel indentation is connected to an adjacent upper indentation by an upper trough.
 6. The sole device according to claim 1, wherein said middle sole has a plurality of first valves around the circumference of said middle sole; said bottom sole has a plurality of second valves around the circumference of said bottom sole; said first and second valves allow air to flow only from the inside out; at least a first valve connects to one of said lower indentation and a lower tough; and at least a second valve connects to a lower trough.
 7. The sole device according to claim 1, wherein said middle sole has a plurality of lower channels connecting the top and bottom surfaces of said middle sole; and the top end of each lower channel is inside a lower trough.
 8. The sole device according to claim 1, wherein each upper indentation is connected to an adjacent upper indentation by an upper trough; and each upper trough joins with a lower trough to form a duct connecting two adjacent air chambers. 